How to Wash a Custom Body Pillow Cover Without Ruining the Print

July 31, 2026

One of the most common questions we get after an order ships is how to keep a custom body pillow cover looking good over time. The print is polyester, so the rules are simple once you know them. Here is exactly how I care for my own covers.

How to wash a custom dakimakura cover

Whether you ordered peachskin or 2way fabric, the routine is the same. The goal is to clean the cover while protecting the printed art.

  • Turn it inside out before washing so the print faces away from friction.
  • Use a mesh laundry bag. It keeps a large cover from twisting around other items and rubbing against the drum.
  • Machine wash cold on the gentle or delicate cycle. Cold water and low agitation are the friendliest settings for printed polyester.
  • Use a mild detergent. Skip bleach and skip fabric softener, which can leave a film on the fabric.

Drying it the right way

Heat is the one thing that damages a print, so drying matters more than washing.

  • Air dry it. Hang it or lay it flat, still inside out, until fully dry.
  • Keep it out of direct sun. Long stretches of harsh sunlight can fade colors over time, so a shaded, airy spot is best.
  • Never tumble dry on hot. High heat is the fastest way to crack or dull a print. If you must use a dryer, no heat and short only, but air drying is safer.
  • Do not iron the print. If a corner of plain fabric wrinkles, use low heat on the back only, never directly on the art.

How often should you wash it?

For a cover you sleep with regularly, every two to three weeks is a reasonable rhythm. Wash it sooner if it gets marked. Washing less often and gently will always beat frequent hot washes when it comes to keeping the art crisp.

Storing spare covers

If you rotate between a few designs, store the ones you are not using clean and fully dry. Fold them loosely and keep them somewhere cool and out of direct light. A drawer or a fabric storage box works well. Avoid sealing a damp cover in plastic, since trapped moisture is bad for any fabric.

A little care goes a long way, and a printed cover treated this way holds up for a long time. If you have been thinking about a new design, you can upload your art, pick your size and fabric, and see it come together in our custom body pillow customizer.